Sooner Fans Send Team to Dayton in Style

The Oklahoma Women head to the Sweet 16 to take on Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:17 pm

By: News On 6

Sooner Fans Send Team to Dayton in Style

Originally Published: Mar 24, 2011 4:40 PM CDT

Carson Cunningham
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- In what has become an annual tradition, a group of Sooner fans greeted the OU women's basketball team as they departed for Dayton, Ohio.

"We have the best fans ever," sophomore center Joanna McFarland said.

The Sooners are making their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Sherri Coale's team upset No. 3 seed Miami 88-83 earlier this week to book a trip to Dayton.

OU faces a familiar foe in No. 2 seed Notre Dame. The Sooners and Fighting Irish are meeting in the tournament for the third time in four seasons. In fact, it's the second-straight season they meet in the round of 16 with OU eliminating Notre Dame just a year ago.

"[Notre Dame] Coach Muffett McGraw does a great job," coach Sherri Coale said. "They're in the Sweet 16 for a reason."

OU and Notre Dame tip off 1 p.m. Saturday. The winner faces the winner of No. 1 seed Tennessee versus No. 4 Ohio State.